Resources

As we read R&'s big Langston books, we've been thinking about the availability of primary sources. For starters, try here @ Yale. There's also an reasonably good source @ the Poetry Foundation. We're saddened, tho, that we are coming up dry at Penn Sound and the Electronic Poetry Center.

What We Mean When We Say...

...devilin.'

The role model Andrew Noz put up his thoughts about The Big Payback up over @ his spot on the corner, CB. We take his point. It's not that Charnas book is, well, OK. It is that there is no master narrative for hiphop (or for that matter, much of anything but the masters). Noz long ago earned his way to the status of role model because he pays rigorous attention to the historical details that differentiate. In other words, he offers respect.

As we think about our work here, we think we are offering our respect to him and our other rolemodels, and to the music to which we can't stop and won't stop listening.

Glimpses

King Kong ain't got nothing on me.

• Michael Richards, Tar Baby vs. St. Sebastian (1999).

Glimpses (3/3 -- Vanishing Point Exercise)

Glimpses (2/3 -- closeup)

Glimpses (1/3)

• Martha Jackson-Jarvis, Crossroads/Trickster (2005).

Glimpses

Sam Gilliam, Last September IV (1973).

Glimpses (apologies for low fi)

• José Nedoa, San Lazaro (O Yo Soy La Ruta) (1992).

Tatum Variations

Master of slang keyboard democracy. It's tatumcratic.

Silly Rabbit Trickery

We're working hard on this one, lured in by the hazy skibeatz groove and allusive lyrics that go in circles like a lostboy looking for something to do.

We're fond of:

I got a style for every bump in your face.

Coin double sided, but no matter what we heads up.

All of that is kicks to me, silly rabbit trickery.

I wasn't born yesterday, not later on that evening.

Just had to get that out the way and make the playing field even.

Elsewhere, chaboy proclaims he's seeing though "lazy eyes." We think this tune is the all about that.

All Blues

What We're Hearing

"I carries it every day."

What We're Hearing

We we're intrigued when Noz claimed that Wiz had "an aesthetic," so we lissening trynta find one. We'll get back w/ you, 'cause we're sure it's there.